Self-sealing collapsible tube



Oct. 1, 1935. I A 2,015,794

SELF SEALING GOLLAPSIBLE TUBE Filed Aug. 4, 1933 \NVENTOR Rag Ufmm ATTO RN EY -25 seat for the ball 4.

Patented Oct. 1, 1935 SELF-SEALING COLLAPSIBLE TUBE Ben D. Gray, Portland, reg., assignor of one fourth to Louisa M. Gilstrap, Portland, Oreg.

Application August 4, 1933, Serial No. 683,602

2 Claims.

The usual form of collapsible tube is provided With a screw cap which is liable to not be replaced after the tube is used, or, if replaced, not screwed down tightly, thus permitting the contents to evaporate or become dry or stiff, resulting in obstruction of the outlet, failure of operation and rupture of the tube.

To overcome this defect I provide a tube equipped with an automatic valve, which at all times when not being operate-d, closes the contents of the tube automatically and thus prevents evaporation of the contents altho it may be of an extremely volatile nature. I

I attain these results by means of the form of construction illustrated in the accompanying drawing, in which Fig. l is a side elevation, partly in section, Fig. 2 is a similar view showing the position of the parts when the contents are being ejected, and Fig. 3 is an outside elevation showing the opening adapted for a ribbon-like discharge. a The numeral I indicates the body of the collapsible tube which is provided with an outlet tube or neck 2, the interior 3 of which forms a An expansive coil spring 5 partly envelopes the ball and rests against the opposite wall of the chamber 3, which is closed down after insertion. The ball 4 has a close working fit in the chamber 3 and, when at rest, fits accurately and closely against the Wall of the chamber 3 forming a tight seal. A channel 6, leads from the interior of the tube to the ball seat and a channel 1 provides an opening from i the ball seat to the exterior. This channel 1 may be elongated transversely to provide a ribbon-like form to the material being discharged, as illustrated in Fig. 3.

To prevent accidental discharge of material from the tube while handling during the process of packing or at other times, a thin cap 8, com

posed of soft metal or other suitable material,

may be pressed over the end of the neck 2, covering the discharge channel 1 and effectively pre venting accidental discharge of material. This cap may be readily removed by the purchaser when ready for use. i I

When compressive pressure is applied to the tube l as shown in Fig. 2, the pressure of the containing material forces the ball 4, against the pressure of the spring 5, away from its seat and thus opens a passageway between the channels 6 and l to the exterior. When the pressure is removed the spring 5 forces the ball 4 back onto its seat, tightly sealing the contents of the tube and elfectively preventing any evaporation.

It will be observed that the seat of the ball extends to one-half of its surface and that the chamber 3, when the ball is seated, is also tightly sealed. As a result of repeated operation some of the material contained within the tube, if of a liquid 5 nature, may pass into the chamber 3. If evaporation could take place from this chamber consequent hardening of the material would prevent raising of the ball 4 from its seat and render the tube inoperable. With my construction the seat- 10 ing of the ball 4, closing communication between the chamber 3 and channel 1, effectively prevents any evaporation from the chamber 3, and the tube may be used therefore as a. container for a highly volatile liquid, with full assurance that no evap- 15 oration can take place either from the interior of the tube or from the chamber 3.

The channel 7 has a flaring opening. After material is discharged from the interior of the body thru the channels 6 and l and pressure is 20 removed permitting the ball 4 to seat, a small amount of material may remain in the channel 1, which, if of a viscous nature, may dry and cause the ball 4 to adhere and resist pressure applied to lift it from its seat. This is a common 25 difficulty which has heretofore rendered devices of this general character inoperative when used for viscous materials.

The ball 4 is necessarily made of slightly smaller diameter than that of the chamber 3 and its 0 valve seat in order that it may move freely therein. Hence the pressure of the spring 5 against the ball 4 results in contact between the ball 4 and the chamber 3 at the point opposite the resultant of the pressure of the spring against the 35 ball,. which point is in the axis of the spring produced thru the center of the ball to its opposite surface. The channel 1 is preferably located adjacent to but not at this central point of contact and the outlet of the channel 6 is 10- 40 cated at a point opposite to the channel 1 in relation to this point of contact. When pressure is applied by squeezing the body I, the somewhat viscous liquid is forced thru the channel 6 against the surface of the ball 4, thus applying a pres- 45 sure tending to roll the ball on the inner surface of the chamber 3 and against the yielding pressure of the spring 5. The loose fit of the ball 4 in the chamber 3 permits the liquid to spread somewhat beyond the opening of the channel 6, 50 thus increasing its area of contact with the ball and resultant pressure. If the ball 4 adheres to the inner surface of the chamber 3 at the chanv nel 1 the pressure applied at the opening of the channel 6 acts as a leverto lift the ball and over- 55 come the adhesive resistance at the side of opening of the channel 1 adjacent to the channel 6. The fulcrum of the lever action is thus at the side of opening of channel l farthest from the channel 6. When the dried material at channel I is broken the spring 5 rotates the ball 4 a small increment back to its original position and the center of the ball moves along the axis of the chamber 3.

I claim:

1. A self-sealing collapsible tube comprising a body, an outlet tube, a chamber Within the outlet tube, a semi-spherical valve seat in the wall of the chamber, a spring-controlled ball seating loosely in the valve seat, an inlet channel opening from the interior of the body into the chamher at a point within the valve seat at one side of its center, and an outlet channel opening from the chamber to the exterior at a point in the valve seat opposite to that of the inlet channel.

2. A self-sealing collapsible tube comprising a body, an outlet tube, a chamber within the outlet tube, a semi-spherical valve seat in the wall of the chamber, a spring-controlled ball seating loosely in the valve seat, an inlet channel opening from the interior of the body into the chamber at a point within the valve seat at one side of its center, an outlet channel opening from the chamber to the exterior at a point in the valve seat opposite to that of the inlet channel, and a removable closure for the latter channel.

REO D. GRAY. 

